Welcome to the Realty Investment Association of California

Our 50th Year of "Success through Cooperation!"

Next Meeting is: 11/13/2018 - Unfortunatley our regularly scheduled speaker had to cancel. Fortunately Jorge Molina has agreed to fill in. In place of doing his Communications Workshop on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, he has agreed to hold it this week in place of the regular speaker.For those of you that haven’t had an opportunity to attend any of his past workshops you’re in for a pleasant surprise. His workshops have been top-rate and the people that have attended them, love them. Come prepared to learn something about public speaking. You’ll learn a lot and may even get a chance to speak yourself if you’re lucky enough (or brave enough).

This Week's Workshop,11/13/18: "Out of the Box Workshop" with Carl Sherrell. Carl’s workshops are also top-rate, and cover a lot of interesting and diverse topics. This is an opportunity to open your mind to new possibilities in this business, and also to share some of your own insights and get your creative juices flowing.

News & Announcements -

The C.A.R. sponsored “clean-up” legislation, signed by the Governor on September 29, 2018, updates many of the laws affecting agents and brokers. All of the changes in the clean-up law become effective on January 1, 2019. The highlights, the primary impact of the clean-up legislation for REALTORS®, will be in the agency disclosure process. C.A.R. Legal Update Page is HERE or PDF is HERE.

The California Bureau of Real Estate (CalBRE) will cease to exist, and will become the Department of Real Estate(DRE), effective July 1, 2018.California Senate Bill 173, signed by Governor Brown on October 15, 2017, removes CalBRE from bureau status under the Department of Consumer Affairs and returns it to department status under the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. The California Department of Real Estate became a bureau on July 1, 2013, as part of a government reorganization plan instituted in 2012.The change is not expected to impact consumers, licensees or license applicants as the regulatory authority remains the same and no contact information will change.

RIAOC OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIST ONE OF YOUR HAVES AND WANTS FOR FREE! (Gold Sheet) THE FIRST AD IS FREE! All members can list one of their Haves and Wants in the Gold Sheet for Free (Add'l Ads $3/Line). Get all the benefits of using the Gold Sheet. Tell everyone what properties you "Have" available for purchase or tell everyone what your Clients are looking for and "Want"!

Quote of the Week: "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain -- and most fools do." Benjamin Franklin

Business Tip of the Week: Athletes at the Winter Olympics got there by setting very high goals and then persistently pursuing them when setbacks came. Those same actions will get us where we want to go in business.

1. Disclosure Regarding Real Estate Agency Relationships (C.A.R. form AD) must be delivered on commercial transactions - Presently, the Disclosure Regarding Real Estate Agency Relationships form (C.A.R.’s AD form) is required for real property transactions involving residential one to four dwelling units, leases of greater than one year and manufactured homes (if negotiated by an agent). Existing law also requires the listing or selling agent to disclose to the buyer and seller whether he or she is acting as the buyer’s agent exclusively, the seller’s agent exclusively, or as a dual agent representing both the buyer and the seller. This disclosure is typically made through the confirmation of agency relationships on the first page of CAR purchase agreements.Under the law, the AD form and confirmation will be required for any commercial, vacant land or industrial property; or any residential 1 - 4 property. Senate Bill 1171 codified as Civil Code §2079.13. Effective January 1, 2015.

2. Energy Use Disclosure (AB 1103) Requirements for Commercial Property: Compliance on or after July 1, 2014 total gross square foot area measuring 5,000 square feet up to 10,000 square feet delayed to July 1, 2016 The sale or lease of commercial property meeting certain square footage measurements requires the delivery of energy use disclosure to the prospective buyer or tenant. The disclosure trigger was to become effective for the sale of lease or commercial property measuring between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet on July 1, 2014. The California Energy Commission amended subdivision (c) of section 1682 of title 20 of the California Code of Regulations as an emergency regulatory action to change the effective date from July 1, 2014 to July 1, 2016 when the disclosure requirements of Public Resources Code section 25402.10 apply for a nonresidential building with a total gross square foot area measuring 5,000 square feet up to 10,000 square feet. The Office of Administrative Law approves this emergency regulatory action pursuant to sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code.This emergency regulatory action became effective on September 2, 2014 and will expire on March 3, 2015.

3. REOs cannot dictate title and escrow company. This law is known as “The Buyer’s Choice Act,” and is now made permanent

The Buyer’s Choice Act presently prohibits a lender that gained title through foreclosure from requiring upon resale, directly or indirectly, as a condition of selling the property, that the buyer purchase title insurance or escrow services from a particular title insurer or escrow agent. This law applies to residential real property of four dwelling units or fewer. A seller who violates these provisions is liable to the buyer for an amount equal to three times all the charges made for the title insurance or escrow services.This existing law was due to sunset in 2015. Now however, the law will continue indefinitely.Senate Bill 1051 codified as Civil Code §1103.23. Effective January 1, 2015.